Ancient Roman ship ram found in Neapolitan harbour

On Tuesday, 1 June, while diving in the Neapolitan harbour, diver Salvatore Andelora found an ancient Roman ship ram.

The magnificent sunken artefact from the city’s ancient past was found underwater by a man diving in the port of Naples. From the seabed near the castle of Maschio Angioin he unearthed a fragment of an ancient Roman ship, specifically a bronze battering ram.

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After preliminary examination, the experts determined the age of the find at around 240 B.C. They also informed that the bronze battering ram most probably came from a trireme, i.e. triera-type vessels (trireme). Ships of this type apart from sails had characteristic three rows of oars and the first examples appeared in use around the 7th century BC.

According to a report presented by Guaddia di Finanza shows that Salvatore Andelora found the ancient Roman ship ram by chance. He arrived on the scene to inspect the hull of a motor yacht. While inspecting the vessel, which was moored in the harbour at Castel NuovoHe took the opportunity to look around the harbour floor.

Probably when entering the water, he did not expect such an unusual find. After all, every diver (especially those diving in the harbour) has their own little underwater “discoveries”, but how many of them can compare in age and history to the bronze battering ram? After all, who knows what its history is and how many vessels it may have sunk before it hit the bottom of the sea itself?

Probably soon (if they haven’t already done so) underwater archaeologists will be in the harbour. It is possible that the battering ram fished out by Salvatore is not the only valuable artefact resting on the bottom. The long, rich and colourful history of Naples and its surroundings rests hidden in the least expected places and reveals its secrets every now and then.